Toy wherein movement of one element causes movement of another of a plurality of elements, in apparently random sequence

ABSTRACT

A mechanical toy can be constructed so that when one element of the toy is moved from one position to another any of a series of other elements is selected in an apparently random manner and is moved to a position corresponding to the first position. Such a toy includes a plurality of elements located adjacent to and around the periphery of a rotor. Cooperating control means are located on the rotor and on each of the elements. Such control means are capable of holding all of the elements against movement from a second operative position to a first operative position and are constructed so as to permit movement of the elements as indicated in the preceding.

United States Patent [111 3,894,353 Oguchi July 15, 1975 TOY WHEREINMOVEMENT OF ONE 2,837,862 6/1958 Cleveland 46/] A ELEMENT C S MOVEMENTOF 3,479,035 11/1969 Glass 61 31.... 273/138 R 3,709,500 l/l973 Coby273/138 R ANOTHER OF A PLURALITY OF ELEMENTS, IN APPARENTLY RANDOMSEQUENCE lnventor: Shigeo Oguchi, Tokyo, Japan Assignee: Tomy Kogyo C0.,Inc., Tokyo,

Japan Filed: June 24, 1974 App]. No.: 482,440

US. Cl 46/1 R; 46/145; 46/244 D; 273/138 R; 46/1 A Int. Cl A63h 33/00Field of Search 46/1 R, l A, 136, 145, 46/146; 273/138 R, 139

Glass 46/1 A X Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay Attorney, Agent, orFirmEdward D. OBrian [57] ABSTRACT A mechanical toy can be constructedso that when one element of the toy is moved from one position toanother any of a series of other elements is selected in an apparentlyrandom manner and is moved to a position corresponding to the firstposition. Such a toy includes a plurality of elements located adjacentto and around the periphery of a rotor. Cooperating control means arelocated on the rotor and on each of the elements. Such control means arecapable of holding all of the elements against movement from a secondoperative position to a first operative position and are constructed soas to permit movement of the elements as indicated in the preceding.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures mzfwz mm 5 ms 13,894,353

w 44 40 5a 24 24 42 46 13765 2 22 4a ZZmA.

TOY WHEREIN MOVEMENT OF ONE ELEMENT CAUSES MOVEMENT OF ANOTHER OF APLURALITY OF ELEMENTS, IN APPARENTLY RANDOM SEQUENCE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The invention set forth in this specification pertains tomechanical toys in which movement of one element from a first operativeposition to a second operative position causes any one of a series ofother elements selected in an apparently random manner to be moved froma corresponding second operative position to a corresponding firstoperative position. Because of the nature of the manner in which theelement which is moved from second operative position to first operativeposition is selected, it can be considered that the toys of thisinvention are in the nature of chance actuated devices.

In the past, many different types of chance operated devices have, ofcourse, been developed and used. It is well recognized that chanceoperated devices have significant play value. To be acceptable for useas toys, chance operated devices must be comparatively simple andinexpensive to construct, must provide a visual effect which isstimulating to play activities, and must be comparatively durable so asto be capable of withstanding the onslaught of destructive forces thatusually accompany the use of any toy. It is considered that prior chancetype toys are not completely acceptable or desirable for any one of avariety of reasons. Since an understanding of the invention does notrequire a detailed analysis of all toys which are related to themechanical toys of this invention no effort is made in thisspecification to specifically delineate the disadvantages andlimitations of all prior related toys. It is believed that the toys ofthe present invention are unique as compared to prior related toys intheir simplicity and effectiveness as play items. These factorsinterrelate with cost advantages, durability, and the achievement of aneffective attention gathering action. It is considered that these andvariously related factors result from the toys of this invention notbeing made unnecessarily complex to achieve a true random mode ofoperation, but instead being constructed to utilize what is apparently arandom action.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A broad objective of the present invention isto provide new and improved mechanical toys and more specificallymechanical toys which apparently are controlled by chance, but which infact only involve an apparently random manner of operation. Furtherobjectives of this invention are to provide mechanical toys as indicatedwhich are comparatively inexpensive to construct, which provide astimulating type of action during their use, and which are comparativelydurable.

In accordance with this invention these and various related objectivesof it are achieved by providing a mechanical toy in which movement ofone element from a first operative position to a second operativeposition causes any one of a series of other elements selected in anapparently random manner to be moved from a corresponding secondoperative position to a corresponding first operative position. The toyis: a rotor capable of being rotated about an axis; a plurality ofelements located adjacent to and around the periphery of the rotor, eachof these elements being capable of being moved between a first and asecond operative position, one of these elements normally being in itsfirst operative position while the remainder of the elements are intheir second operative positions; and cooperating control means locatedon the rotor and on each of the elements for holding all of the elementsagainst movement from their second operative positions to their firstoperative positions and for allowing one of the elements located in itssecond operative position to move to its first operative position whenan element in its first operative position is moved to its secondoperative position, the element so moved from its second operativeposition to its first operative position being determined in anapparently random manner as a result of rotation of the control means onsaid rotor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Unfortunately a summary such as thepreceding inherently cannot fully and completely indicate many importantfacets and features of an invention and/or a specific structureconstructed in accordance with the invention. Further details relativeto the present invention will be apparent from a detailed considerationof the remainder of this specification, the appended claims, and theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a presently preferred embodiment or form ofa mechanical toy in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side-elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken at line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a partial diagrammatic view illustrating part of the operationof a control means as employed in the toy shown in the precedingfigures.

This illustrated toy embodies certain essentially intangible concepts orprinciples of the invention as are set forth and defined in the appendedclaims. These concepts or principles can be easily adapted to beutilized in a wide variety of differently appearing and differentlyconstructed toys through the use or exercise of routine engineeringskill on the basis of the disclosure embodied in this specification andin the accompanying drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the drawing, there is shown a mechanical toy 10in accordance with this invention which includes a housing 12. Thishousing 12 has a top 14, a bottom 16, and a continuous side wall 18connecting the top 14 and the bottom 16. The top 14 is provided with sixopenings 20 which are spaced equidistant from one another around acentrally located axis shown by the center line A in FIG. 3. This top 14also carries dependent cylinders 22 which are of the same diameter asthe openings 20 and which are aligned with these openings 20. Thesecylinders 22 are provided with slots 24 extending along their lengths.These slots 24 are located apart around the axes of the cylinders 22.These slots 24 are also located in planes which extend radially from theaxis A indicated in the preceding.

In each of the cylinders 22 there is located a sliding cylindrical body26. In the toy 10 each of the bodies 26 carries a simulated head of ananimal 28. These bodies 26 are normally biased towards what may bereferred to as a first operative position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 by asmall coil spring 38 located beneath each body 26 in each of thecylinders 22. The springs 30 rest against the bottom 16 of the housing12. When the bodies 26 are in what is referred to in the preceding as afirst position, small projections 32 on the bodies 26 extend through theslots 24 in such a manner as to abut against the top 14. When theprojections 32 abut against the top 14 they serve as stop elements ormeans limiting movement of the bodies 26.

The toy includes what may be referred to as a centrally located shaft 34extending coaxily with the axis A. This shaft 34 extends downwardly fromthe top 14 and is locked against shifting or movement by reinforcingwebs 36 which also extend downnwardly from the top 14. The lower part ofthis shaft 34 carries a rotor 38. The rotor 38 is held on the shaft 34by means of contact with an annular upstanding rib 40 on the bottom 16.It will be noted that the rotor 38 is located so that top and bottomflanges 42 and 44, respectively, on it are located closely adjacent tothe cylinders 22 and more specifically closely adjacent to the innermostof the slots 24 in the cylinders 22. The top flange 42 is provided witha series of openings 46 located in a pattern as hereinafter indicated.The flange 44 carries a propulsion surface beneath each of the openings46. Such surfaces 48 may be referred to as inclined surfaces or camsurfaces. The flange 44 also carries an upstanding stop element 50immediately adjacent to and spaced from the lower most end of eachsurface 48.

Normally when the toy 10 is used one of the bodies 26 will be in whatwas referred to in the preceding as a first operative position in whichthe simulated head 28 carried by this body 26 extends upwardly from thetop 14. Normally when the toy 10 is used the remainder of the bodies 26will be held in what may be referred to as a second operative positionin which a projection 32 on each of the bodies 26 is held against theundersurface of the flange 42 by a spring 30. In such second operativepositions the simulated heads 28 carried by the bodies 26 in thisposition are normally generally beneath the top 14 within the cylinders22.

When the toy 10 is to be utilized for play purposes a simulated head 28in a first operative position will be pushed downwardly against itsassociated spring 30. During such movement the associated projection 32closest adjacent to the rotor 38 will pass through one of the openings46 in the flange 42. As the movement is continued this projection 32will engage the surface 48 directly beneath this opening 46. As thisparticular simulated head 28 is pushed downwardly contact with thesurface 48 will result in a limited amount of rotation of the rotor 38.The amount of such rotation will be limited by the particular projection32 which engages the surface 48 abutting against the stop element 50.

As such rotation occurs the rotor 38 will be turned so as to placeanother of the openings 46 immediately above a projection 32 on anotherof the bodies 26 in a position where the force of the spring 30associated with this body 26 will cause the simulated head 28 associatedwith it to pop up from the top 14. The amount of such movement will, ofcourse, be limited by the projections 32 of the body 26 so moved hittingagainst the top 14. As a simulated head 28 pops up in this mannernormally the simulated head 28 which was pushed down to cause thismotion will be released. As a consequence of this the spring 30associated with the released simulated head 28 and the body 26 carryingit will move this body 26 upwardly to what is referred to in thepreceding as a second operative position. In this position theprojection 32 on the body 26 which was released will fit against theflange 42.

This mode of operation normally will be repeated innumerable times by anindividual playing with the toy 10; such an individual pushingdownwardly whatever simlated head 28 is exposed at the top 14 so as tocause another simulated head 28 to pop up. An individual playing withthe toy 10 may attempt to predict which head 28 will come up next byturning a small pointer 52 rotatably mounted on the top 14 by a screw 54towards such a head 28. A critical feature of the present invention isthe manner in which various different simulated heads 28 are caused topop up in what appears to be a random manner.

This is related to the placement of the openings 46, the surfaces 48,and the stop element 50 on the rotor 38. A presently preferred spacingis indicated in FIG. 4 of the drawing. This spacing may be regarded as anon-uniform spacing permitting release of only a single projection at atime when all of the projections 32 are located beneath the flange 42.The spacing of the openings 46 and the other parts permits an apparentlyrandom release in a sequence which is constantly changing as the toy 10is used in the sense that the pattern of parts on the rotor 38 iscontinuously rotated as the toy 10 is employed.

Because of this mode of operation it can be regarded that the flange 42,the openings 46, the surfaces 48, and the stop elements 50 on the rotor38 serve as parts of a control means located on this rotor 38. Suchcontrol means on the rotor 38 co-act with the projections 32 on thebodies 26 in such a manner that the co-acting projections 32 on thesebodies 26 can be regarded as control means. Such control means on therotor 38 and on the bodies 26 cooperate with one another to permit themode of operation indicated in the preceding.

It is believed that it will be apparent from a careful consideration ofthe foregoing that the toy 10 is a simple, comparatively inexpensive toconstruct toy. This toy 10 has significant play value in that itprovides a stimulating type of action as it is used. When this toy 10 isconstructed as indicated, it is capable of significant use withoutrequiring maintenance or repair.

I claim:

1. A mechanical toy in which movement of one element from a firstposition to a second position causes any one of a series of otherelements selected in an apparently random manner to be moved from acorresponding second position to a corresponding first position, saidtoy including:

a housing;

a rotor, means rotatably mounting said rotor in said housing forrotation relative thereto about an axis;

a plurality of elements, means mounting said elements in said housingadjacent to and around the periphery of said rotor, whereby each of saidelements is capable of being moved between a first and a second positionrelative to said housing and rotor, one of said elements normally beingin its first position while the remainder of said elements are in theirsecond positions, means for moving each said element toward its firstposition, cooperating control means located on said rotor and on each ofsaid elements for holding all but one of said elements against movementfrom said second positions to said first positions while allowing theremaining one of said elements to move from said second position to saidfirst position, said control means operating to release one of said heldelements for movement to its second position and to hold all remainingsaid elements in said second position in response to an element in afirst position being moved to its second position,

the element moved from a second position to said first position inresponse to movement of an element from said first position to saidsecond position being determined by said control means so that theelement which is so moved from said second position to said firstposition is apparently chosen at random.

2. A mechanical toy as claimed in claim 1 including:

said housing having a plurality of openings located therein, each ofsaid openings being associated with one of said elements,

each of said elements extending out through its associated opening whenit is in its first position, each of said elements being locatedgenerally within said housing when it is in its second position.

3. A mechanical toy as claimed in claim 1 including:

said means for moving comprising spring means independently biasing eachof said elements away from its second position towards its firstposition,

said control means serving to hold all of said elements which are intheir second positions against movement to their first positions untilone of said elements is moved from its first position to its secondposition.

4. A mechanical toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said cooperating control means on said elements comprise projectionsextending away from each of said elements and said control means on saidrotor include a flange located on said rotor so as to extend therefrom,said flange being engaged by all of said projections on said elementswhich are in their second positions,

said flange having a plurality of openings located therein, saidopenings being spaced from one another at non-uniform intervals so as topermit release of only a single projection at a time when said rotor isrotated,

said control means on said rotor also including a cam surface on saidrotor associated with each of said openings in said flange,

said rotor being capable of being rotated when one of said elements ismoved from its first position past its second position so as to bringthe projection on it into engagement with one of said cam surfaces onsaid rotor so as to impart rotation to said rotor as a consequence ofthe movement of said element.

5. A mechanical toy as claimed in claim 4 including:

stop means for limiting rotation of said rotor in response to movementof one of said elements from its first position past its second positionso as to bring the projection on it into engagement with one of said camsurfaces on said rotor.

6. A mechanical toy as claimed in claim 5 wherein:

said stop means comprising a plurality of stop members on said rotor,each of said stop members being associated with one of said camsurfaces,

said stop members being located so as to be engaged by said projectionson said elements after rotation of said rotor caused by contact of saidprojections with said cam surfaces.

7. A mechanical toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said cooperating control means on said elements comprise projectionsextending away from each of said elements and said control means on saidrotor include a flange located on said rotor so as to extend therefrom,said flange being engaged by all of said projections on said elementswhich are in their second positions,

said flange having a plurality of openings located therein, saidopenings being spaced from one another at non-uniform intervals so as topermit release of only a single projection at a time when said rotor isrotated,

said control means on said rotor also including a cam surface on saidrotor associated with each of said openings in said flange,

said rotor being capable of being rotated when one of said elements ismoved from its first position past its second position so as to bringthe projection on it into engagement with one of said cam surfaces onsaid rotor so as to impart rotation to said rotor as a consequence ofthe movement of said element, and including stop means for limitingrotation of said rotor in response to movement of one of said elementsfrom its first position past its second position so as to bring theprojection on it into engagement with one of said cam surfaces on saidrotor,

said stop means comprising a plurality of stop members on said rotor,each of said stop members being associated with one of said camsurfaces,

said stop members being located so as to be engaged by said projectionson said elements after rotation of said rotor caused by contact of saidprojections with said cam surfaces.

8. A mechanical toy as claimed in claim 1 including:

said housing having a plurality of openings located therein, each ofsaid openings being associated with one of said elements,

each of said elements extending out through its associated opening whenit is in its first position, each of said elements being locatedgenerally within said housing when it is in its second position,

said means for moving including spring means independently biasing eachof said elements away from its second position towards its firstposition,

said control means serving to hold all of said elements which are intheir second positions against movement to their first positions untilone of said elements is moved from its first position to its secondposition.

1. A mechanical toy in which movement of one element from a firstposition to a second position causes any one of a series of otherelements selected in an apparently random manner to be moved from acorresponding second position to a corresponding first position, saidtoy including: a housing; a rotor, means rotatably mounting said rotorin said housing for rotation relative thereto about an axis; a pluralityof elements, means mounting said elements in said housing adjacent toand around the periphery of said rotor, whereby each of said elements iscapable of being moved between a first and a second position relative tosaid housing and rotor, one of said elements normally being in its firstposition while the remainder of said elements are in their secondpositions, means for moving each said element toward its first position,cooperating control means located on said rotor and on each of saidelements for holding all but one of said elements against movement fromsaid second positions to said first positions while allowing theremaining one of said elements to move from said second position to saidfirst position, said control means operating to release one of said heldelements for movement to its second position and to hold all remainingsaid elements in said second position in response to an element in afirst position being moved to its second position, the element movedfrom a second position to said first position in response to movement ofan element from said first position to said second position beingdetermined by said control means so that the element which is so movedfrom said second position to said first position is apparently chosen atrandom.
 2. A mechanical toy as claimed in claim 1 including: saidhousing having a plurality of openings located therein, each of saidopenings being associated with one of said elements, each of saidelements extending out through its associated opening when it is in itsfirst position, each of said elements being located generally withinsaid housing when it is in its second position.
 3. A mechanical toy asclaimed in claim 1 including: said means for moving comprising springmeans independently biasing each of saiD elements away from its secondposition towards its first position, said control means serving to holdall of said elements which are in their second positions againstmovement to their first positions until one of said elements is movedfrom its first position to its second position.
 4. A mechanical toy asclaimed in claim 1 wherein: said cooperating control means on saidelements comprise projections extending away from each of said elementsand said control means on said rotor include a flange located on saidrotor so as to extend therefrom, said flange being engaged by all ofsaid projections on said elements which are in their second positions,said flange having a plurality of openings located therein, saidopenings being spaced from one another at non-uniform intervals so as topermit release of only a single projection at a time when said rotor isrotated, said control means on said rotor also including a cam surfaceon said rotor associated with each of said openings in said flange, saidrotor being capable of being rotated when one of said elements is movedfrom its first position past its second position so as to bring theprojection on it into engagement with one of said cam surfaces on saidrotor so as to impart rotation to said rotor as a consequence of themovement of said element.
 5. A mechanical toy as claimed in claim 4including: stop means for limiting rotation of said rotor in response tomovement of one of said elements from its first position past its secondposition so as to bring the projection on it into engagement with one ofsaid cam surfaces on said rotor.
 6. A mechanical toy as claimed in claim5 wherein: said stop means comprising a plurality of stop members onsaid rotor, each of said stop members being associated with one of saidcam surfaces, said stop members being located so as to be engaged bysaid projections on said elements after rotation of said rotor caused bycontact of said projections with said cam surfaces.
 7. A mechanical toyas claimed in claim 1 wherein: said cooperating control means on saidelements comprise projections extending away from each of said elementsand said control means on said rotor include a flange located on saidrotor so as to extend therefrom, said flange being engaged by all ofsaid projections on said elements which are in their second positions,said flange having a plurality of openings located therein, saidopenings being spaced from one another at non-uniform intervals so as topermit release of only a single projection at a time when said rotor isrotated, said control means on said rotor also including a cam surfaceon said rotor associated with each of said openings in said flange, saidrotor being capable of being rotated when one of said elements is movedfrom its first position past its second position so as to bring theprojection on it into engagement with one of said cam surfaces on saidrotor so as to impart rotation to said rotor as a consequence of themovement of said element, and including stop means for limiting rotationof said rotor in response to movement of one of said elements from itsfirst position past its second position so as to bring the projection onit into engagement with one of said cam surfaces on said rotor, saidstop means comprising a plurality of stop members on said rotor, each ofsaid stop members being associated with one of said cam surfaces, saidstop members being located so as to be engaged by said projections onsaid elements after rotation of said rotor caused by contact of saidprojections with said cam surfaces.
 8. A mechanical toy as claimed inclaim 1 including: said housing having a plurality of openings locatedtherein, each of said openings being associated with one of saidelements, each of said elements extending out through its associatedopening when it is in its first position, each of said elements beinglocated generally within said hOusing when it is in its second position,said means for moving including spring means independently biasing eachof said elements away from its second position towards its firstposition, said control means serving to hold all of said elements whichare in their second positions against movement to their first positionsuntil one of said elements is moved from its first position to itssecond position.